“I’m trying!” He scrambled across the floor on his knees, feeling about in earnest, this time determined to strangle any rat that crossed his path. He brushed against Bart’s tennis shoe, then felt along his trouser leg. It’s got to be right around here somewhere, this is where he dropped it just before the lights . . . “Oh, shit, Del . . .”

His hand found cool metal.

“Got it!” He thumb-stabbed the rubber switch and sprayed the walls with a flash of lightning, then hit it again and this time the bulb stayed on.

Bart was in the same position as before, jammed up against the hole in the wall, his face pressed to the stone and distorted by fear. He tried pulling his arm free but he was too off balance and panic had sapped his strength. Tears were streaming through the dust on his face.

Del looped his arms around his brother’s chest and pulled as hard as he could but the older boy wouldn’t budge. “C’mon, Bart,” he urged, “pull your arm out. You can do it.” He tugged again. Bart groaned. “Bart! Pull your arm out!”

“I can’t, you little dumb-ass! Something’s got me!”

“Bullshit.” The boy moved around to where he could look into his brother’s face. “C’mon, you pussy. You can do better than that. I ain’t carrying you.” There was a spark of anger in Bart’s reddened eyes. A sneer curled his lip. “That’s it,” Del taunted. “Get mad! Pull!”

With a growl Bart lurched backward, gaining only scant inches of freedom but enough to bring up a foot and brace it against the stone. With like effort he raised the other leg and planted it as well, till he was bent double and clung to the wall like an imprisoned insect. “Del,” he wheezed, “grab hold.” The boy did as instructed, locking his arms around his brother’s middle. “On three. One. Two. Three!”

It was like surging against a steel cable. Neither of them budged; trembling with strain was the only evidence of their efforts. Eyes bulged. Sweat broke and slid down their faces. Teeth grated. Leg muscles quivered, almost spasming. Something popped.

“Oh, God . . .”

“Bart, what . . .”

“Don’t stop!” There was pain in his voice, mingled with the fear. “Del, don’t stop! It’s coming!” He wrapped his free arm around his shoulder as if to hold it in the socket and the tug-of-war continued.

“It gave!” Bart grunted. “It gave! Pull harder!”